Stair stepper

[Huntndog]

I am thinking seriously about buying a stairstepper. We have a small home gym and I am lifting weights . We already have a treadmill, which I can use and work out with an incline ,but I thought a stairstepper would be a nice addition. I can wear a pack outdoors and have limited places to hike. There are some great hikes in the area, however, time constraints due to work mean those opportunities are necessarily limited.
Any thoughts on what brand would be best to simulate mountain hiking?

 

[elkguide]

I'm not sure if I hate my BowFlex Max trainer or if it hates me. Either way I feel like I'm going to die when I finish BUT it does keep me in so much better shape.

They can usually found for sale used for half price. Any one from the model 7 to the 9 are great.

 

[pacoalcracker]

Good ones are 5-10K new and 3-5K used in nice condition. Cheap ones are just that. Any top brand in that price range are worth buying. They are worth having and way better for conditioning than any treadmill. My best was climbing 122 stories (10' each) non-stop in 32 minutes at a pretty good clip.....basically to the top of the empire state building. That was when I was 60. I thought that was pretty good but it took a lot to get me to that point.

 

[Coach Chris]

Any thoughts on what brand would be best to simulate mountain hiking?

Nothing simulates mountain hiking except hiking in the mountains.
Neuromuscular motor patterns are absolutely specific to activity.
You can use "cardio equipment" to increase capillary density in your legs and train appropriate energy systems.
You can't mimic hiking in the mountains without actually hiking.
As far training modalities go, Rucking is the closest you will get.
Another good modality is sled drags.
Good Journey!

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

Another vote for max trainer. Real stair steppers are crazy expensive and still break. Max trainer works pretty well. If you live near a populated area check Craigslist. I got mine for $300, my sister got one for $200.
Another option is joining one of the cheap $10 a month gyms and using theirs.

 

[Huntndog]

Thanks for the replies so far. Mostly I want to work on cardio side of things. We live in the country , so rucking is an option,but again time is limited.
Coach Chris mentioned sled drags which got me thinking. I can maybe make something to drag with a harness around here…

 

[Globe_trotter21]

Is the max trainer much better than setting the incline on the treadmill to the maximum height and wearing a pack?

 

[elkguide]

Is the max trainer much better than setting the incline on the treadmill to the maximum height and wearing a pack?

Yes.

 

[Yoder]

Just do step ups. You can even use your pack. All you need is a step. I prefer these since I can add as much weight as I want, and I can vary the step height.

 

[Ridge Runner]

only thing with the step ups is your achilles tendon on the decent especially with weight. stepping back off the box puts a lot of strain on the tendon. I cringe when I see people jumping back off a box especially those at more advanced ages.

 

[Jdeck09]

My wife and I got one a while back. Its great to have but it does take up a good bit of space for a single exercise.

 

[MuleyFever]

I have a max trainer and if you push yourself it gives you a pretty good workout. Same with my row machine.

 

[go4thegusto]

I bought a used Versaclimber recently. Has vibration which I don't think I need so usually off.
I like the unit. Heck of a workout.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

Just do step ups. You can even use your pack. All you need is a step. I prefer these since I can add as much weight as I want, and I can vary the step height.

I do both but hard to knock out an hr of step ups vs an hr on a stepper. It’s the primary way I get my longer Zone 2 workouts in.

 

[TradLife406]

So I loathe the stair stepper. I can't describe how much I hate it.
But a few weeks ago I was like ok this is probably the best thing to hit zone 4 and sustain it to be ready for the mountain for scouting and hunting.
Started 15 min four days a week then upped it 5 min each week.
Sadly my work schedule cut my two hour gym sessions to an hour. But I try and get atleast 10-15 min of stair hell in after lifting.

I will say the times I've hit the mountain I've been probably the fastest with the most endurance I ever have.

It might also be the cardarine I've been taking since march. Stuff is called cardio in a pill.

But I'd definitely recommend buying one or using one at the gym.

 

[Yoder]

I do both but hard to knock out an hr of step ups vs an hr on a stepper. It’s the primary way I get my longer Zone 2 workouts in.

I can see that. I've spent a lot of time on those, and I just got burned out. It definitely builds mental toughness. You have to go somewhere else in your mind

 

[buckpro]

I use them all, a stair stepper with a pack on i would rate at #2.(don't hold on, ever)
However, the biggest benefit I have seen from any of them is step ups. Specifically 18" step ups with a 40-50lb pack on, i'll move to 60lbs about 30 days before a sheep hunt. Right now i do 500 step ups followed by a 4 mile ruck, then 200 more stepups. I'll get up to 1000 before a hunt. It is mind numbing boring, but it works.

 

[LCguy]

If you have a Planet Fitness nearby, consider getting a cheap membership there and using theirs. I do alot of my cardio at Planet Fitness since my gym is more of a powerlifting gym and my girlfriend has a Planet Fitness black card. Never have to worry about there not being enough cardio machines.

 

[jaybee129]

It's so funny to hear some folks talk about hating the stair stepper. It's the only cardio machine I can stand for more than about 10-15 minutes. There's something about it feeling like climbing a mountain to me that's appealing! And no uncomfortable seats to sit on. I do personally find that a mix of squats/deadlifts plus stair stepping makes an enormous difference in my hiking stamina and power.

 

[mtnbound]

For myself it comes down to the width of the foot platforms why I dislike steppers. Most put your legs wider than a normal walking stride which creates an unusual walking pattern.